HELGREN AND WESTFALL NAMED CAPTAINS FOR 2017 SEASON

December 6, 2016

MARTIN, Tenn. – Senior Ryan Helgren and junior Dalton Westfall have been announced as 2017 captains for the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team, as announced by head coach Rick Robinson

“Each year the players vote on captains and this year Westfall and Helgren received over 80 percent of the votes,” Robinson said. “The players see the same things I see every day. Two veteran guys that lead by example on and off the field. I have never had two captains I am more excited about working with in making this a winning team in the classroom, in the community and in the Ohio Valley Conference.”

A native of Columbia, Tenn., Helgren enters his second season with the Skyhawks hoping to build off what was a promising first year. The do-it-all utility player led all UT Martin batters with a .321 average, including a team-high six homers and 16 total extra-base hits. He also proved to be one of the most versatile players on the roster seeing action at multiple positions defensively. Helgren did the bulk of his damage in conference play, hitting .318 and driving in 15 runs.

Westfall is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he shined in his four appearances. The 6-6 righty held opposing hitters to just a .196 average over 16.2 innings pitched. Prior to his injury, the Buckhannon, W. Va. native earned a 2-1 record as he allowed only eight earned runs while striking out 13.

The Skyhawks open the 2017 campaign with a three-game home series against Buffalo beginning on Feb. 17.